Barça B's Gerard Gumbau learns from the free kick master Rivaldo

The fomer Barça legend dropped in on a B team training session to offer his advice on taking free kicks. Just a few days later the results were plain to see in the 1-1 draw against Alcoyano

fcbarcelona.com

03:00PM Monday 30 Jan

Barça B

30 Jan 17

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Minute 86 of the game between Barça B and Alcoyano with home side losing 1-0 thanks to a 52nd minute goal from David Torres. That result for the side from near Alicante meant they were provisionally leaders of the Second Division B. All that was about to change: with just four minutes remaining on the clock, Mujica was fouled on the edge of the box and Gerard Gumbau stepped up to slam home the free kick and keep Barça top of the table.

The goal also came with an interesting story behind it involving a Barça legend of years gone by, Vítor Borba Ferreira, better known as Rivaldo. Just days before the game, the man who had played for Barça between 1997 and 2002 alongside current Barça B coach Gerard López and goalkeeping coach Carles Busquets, father of midfielder Sergio Busquets, dropped into a training session to offer his advice to the stars of the future in the B squad. Rivaldo showed he had not lost his touch despite claiming “it’s been while since I took a free kick.” Gerard Gumbau was there carefully taking mental notes, saying at the time: “It’s a privilege to have him [Rivaldo] with us here to give us advice on how to take free kicks. I will try and take in what he has told me.”

Gumbau was certainly true to his word, reproducing the Brazilian’s magic when it just needed most at the weekend in the Miniestadi against Alcoyano.